Speed governors



` Filed nec. 28, 19Go 4 sheets-sheet 1 Hy. /A

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` SPEED GOVERNORS Filed Dec. 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 17, 1963 Filed Dec. 28, 1960 z. s. MIRACKI 3,103,822

SPEED GOVERNORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent C) 3,103,822 SPEED GOVERNORS Zdzislav Stanislav Mirack, London, England, assigner to Simms Motor Units Limited, London, England, a

British company Filed Dec. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 78,956 Claims priority, application Great Britain lian. 4, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 73-551) The invention relates -to speed governors.

The invention provides a centrifugal speed governor comprising .at least one weight assembly arranged for rotation with ashaft or other rotatable member and comprising two rollers interconnected for rotation relative to one lanother about a common axis and engaging respectively with two surfaces which are inclined relatively to- Wards each other, as they extend in the direction laavfay fnorn the ax-is of the rotatable member, and vare biassed towards one another, the `arrangement being such that as the weight assembly moves, under ycentrifugal force, outwards from .the rotatable member when it is rotated, the rollers roll along the respective surfaces and urge them apart against their bias.

Preferably two such weight `assemblies and co-operating pairs of surfaces are provided on opposite sides respectively of the rotatable member.

The invention also provides a centrifugal speed 4governor comprising a weight or weights yarnanged for rotation with a shaft or other rotatable member and to move under centrifugal force outwardly from the rotatable member when it is rotated, the said movement being opposed by n biassing spring, in which the Ibiassing spring is adjustable to provide different rates of change oef biassing force with respect to amount of outward movement of the weights.

Preferably means are provided to adjust -a load on the spring to set the speed to which the governor tends to limit the rotation of the rotatable member, and the characteristics of the spring Iare preferably such that when the load on the spring is so 'adjusted the spring is automa12ically ladjusted to provide lat the set speed an yappropriate nate of change of biassing force with respect to amount of outward movement ofthe weights. Preferably the said rate of change of biassing fonce With respect to amount of outward movement of the Weights decreases with decrease in the governed speed setting, to improve the speed regulation 'at lower speeds.

Preferably the spring comprises la coil torsion spring and the diameter of the coil changes with the loading Ion the spring- A specific construction of apparatus embodying the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the laccformwanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 (which is in two parts-1A and 1B) is a longitudinal sectional View of a fuel injection pump fitted with a speed governor,

FIGURE 2 is a tnansverse sectional View partly on the line 2L-2L of FIGURE l and partly on the line 2li-2R of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded View, in perspective, of the flyweights 'and associated members.

In this example the fuel injection pump comprises la camshaft 11 which, when the y:apparatus is in use, is driven from a four cylinder diesel engine in timed relationship therewith. rllhe camshaft 11 reciprocates plungers in barrels 12 land thereby pumps fuel from outlets 13 which, when the apparatus is in use, are connected to the respective cylinders of the engine. T he amount of fuel ywhich is supplied from each outlet 13 during each pumping stroke of each of the plungcrs is determined -by the lengthwise position of a control rod 14. The rate of fuel delivered to the engine is at a maximum when the control rod 14 is 2 moved as far 'as possible to the left (as viewed in FIG- URE l) and is reduced to zero when the control rod is moved as far las possible to the right.

In this example the speed governor comprises tw'o Weight assemblies 21, each of which assemblies comprises two main weight rollers 22 mounted on a spindle 23 and secured 'against rotation relative thereto, :and a centre roller 24 which is rotatable on the spindle 23. The spindles 23 pass tlluiough elongated slots 2S provided in the side walls 26 of a member 27 which is lformed from sheet steel and is of generally channel shape. The camshaft 11 passes through a circular hole in the base of the channel, and the centre parts of the sides 26 are curved as shown at 28 to embrace the shaft 11. The end parts of the base of the member 27 .are bent inwardly to provide inclined surfaces 29 which abut respectively against the centre rollers 24 of the weight assemblies. The member 27 is hardened after being bent no shape. Each lorf the surfaces 29 is convex and co-operates with the concave surface of the cofoperating centre roller 24. This tends to maintain the centre rollers 24 in line with one another and so that they each roll in ia straight line path along the length `of the appropriate surface 29.

The Weight rollers 22 abut against the inner surface 31 of the base of the wide channel member 32 which is secured by screws 33 to a flange 34 provided on the camshaft 11. The sides 35 of the channel member 32 engage with convex ends provided on the spindles 23 to cause the weight assemblies 21 and the members 27 to rotate with the camshaft 11. The member 32 is of sheet steel bent to shape and hardened. The member 32 is such that it can flex slightly under the forces which it titans-mits when the' engine is accelerated and so provides a cushioned drive between the camshaft and the rest fof the governor.

As the camshaft rotates, the weight assemblies 21 tend to move outwardly from the shaft, under centrifugal force, :and owing to the engagement of the weight Lrollers 22 with the surface 31 and the engagement of the central rollers 24 with the inclined surfaces 29, the member 27 is subjected to a force tending to move it'away from the member 32 i-n the axial direction of the shaft 11, to the right as shown in FIGURE l. v The member 27 is secured to a sleeve 36 which is axially slidable on the shaft 11 and has an integral ange 37 which acts through a ball thrust bearing 38 on a collar 39. The collar 39 has an annular groove 41 into which project, at -diametrically opposite positions, two pins 42 carried by a stirrup 43 which is pivotally mounted on a rod 44. The stirrup 43 is pivotally connected at 45 to a link 46 which has a bifurcated end 47 engaging with a pin 48 on the control rod 14. The stirrup 43 carries a pin 49 for abutment with a notch 51 in the link 46, the link 46 being urged into engagement with the pin 49 by means of a coiled Wire spring 52. Thus, When the engine speed is sucient to cause ythe weight assemblies to move the upper end of the stirrup 43 sufliciently far about'its pivot to the right (as viewed in FIGURE l) the control rod is thereby moved to the right to reduce the amount of fuel supplied to the engine at each injection period, and consequently to reduce the speed of the engine.

The bias for the weight assemblies 21, and the parts 27, 36, 33, 39, 43 on which they act, is provided by a governor spring 53. This spring Yhas elongated portions 54 having curved ends 55 which abut against the collar 39, two intermediate annular `torsion spring portions 56 which' are coiled round the rod 44, and a central straight portion 57. The central portion 57 of the spring is received in a slot 58 formed in 4a bush 59 which is pinned at 61 to the rod 44. The speed to which the engine is to be governed is `determined by the angular position of the rod 44 about its axis, and that rod is'rotated to the desired setting by a lever 62. When the rod 44 is rotated anti-clockwise (as viewed in FIGURE 1) the load on the spring 53 is thereby increased and the governed speed of the engine is correspondingly increased. Such anti-clockwise rotation of the rod 44 also causes the coil portions 56 of the spring to be wound more tightly so that their diameter is slightly decreased. This has the effect of automatically adjusting the spring so that the rate of change of biassing force with respect to amount of outward movement of the weight assemblies, is increased. When the rod 44 is rotated in the opposite direction (clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1) the loading of the spring 53 is correspondingly reduced and the rate of the spring is at the same time decreased owing to the increase in the diameter of the coil portions 56 of the spring 53. The increase in centrifugal force due to any particular increase in the speed of the engine above its nominal governed speed is less when the governed speed is relatively low (eg. 1,000 r.p.m.), than when the governed speed is relatively high (e.g. 2,000 r.p.m.). Consequently, the reduction in the rate of the spring at lower nominal governed speeds enables the governor to provide improved control of the engine at lower speeds, compared with the case where the rate of the governor spring is substantially the same for lower speeds as for higher speeds.

The fact that the weight rollers 29 and the centre rollers 24 are capable of relative rotation reduces the possi-bility of jamming of the weights between the surfaces 31 and 29 and also reduces friction. As the weights move outwardly under centrifugal force, or inwardly under the action of the biassing spring 53, the weights 22 (which roll on the surface 31) rotate in the opposite direction to the rollers 24 (which roll on the surfaces 29). These rotations in opposed directions reduce or prevent any tendency of the weight assemblies to rotate continuously about the axes of 4the respective spindles 23, while providing relative rotation between the rollers 24 and the respective spindles 23 which is double the amount of rotation of .the individual rollers 24 and 22. This doubling of the amount of rotation is believed to be advantageous.

The control rod 14 carries an abutment plate 63 for zzo-operation with either of two levers 64, 65. The lever 65 is fast on a sleeve 66 which is rotatable on a rod 67 and is fast with an engine stop lever 68. The engine is stopped, when required, by moving the engine stop lever 68 to rotate the lever 65 anti-clockwise (as Viewed in FIGURE l) to engage the abutment 63 to move the control rod 14 to the right, thereby over-riding the action of the governor.

The maximum amount of fuel which can normally be provided `by the pump at each injection period is determined by the lever 64 which abuts against a stop 69. The position of the stop 69 is adjustable by screwing it through the pump casing at 71, and after such adjustment its psition is sealed, the seals being indicated at 72. When an excess rate of supply of fuel is required for starting the engine, the rod 67 is pressed inwardly carrying the lever 65 to the right (as viewed in FIGURE 2) against the action of a return spring 73. The lever 64 in its passage to the right, abuts against and carries with it a paWl in the form of a leaf spring 74. When the lever 64 is outside Athe path of the abutment 63, the control rod 14 is permitted to move further to the left (as viewed in FIGURE 1) to provide an excess rate of fuel supply. As soon as the engine starts, the governor moves the control rod 14 to the right and when the leaf spring 74 passes beyond the lever 64 it springs back against the abutment 63. If the rod 64 is maintained depressed, in an attempt to obtain an excess rate of fuel supply while the engine is running, the attempt is frustrated as the maximum rate of fuel supply is then determined by abutment of the spring '74 (instead of the abutment 63) against the lever 64.

The camshaft 11 is supported between two bearings 75, 76 and can be driven from either of its ends 77, 78. A

drive is available from its other end for any other device which it may be desired to drive from the engine.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing example. For instance, the governor may be employed with devices other than fuel injection pumps.

I claim:

1. A centrifugal speed governor comprising a member rotatable about an axis; a first surface member and a second surface -member which are inclined relatively toward each other in directions transverse to the said axis so that the said surface members are progressively closer to each other as they progressively extend in the direction away from the axis of the rotatable member; biasing means for biasing the first and second surface members toward each other; a generally channel-shaped member with its channel extending in a direction transverse to the said axis and supported from the rotatable member for rotation therewith and having two opposed walls each formed with a slot, which slot extends parallel to the said first surface; a weight assembly comprising a spindle carryinv a first roller and a second roller, the spindle passing throu-gh and being guided by the said slots, the first roller being positioned between the said walls of the channelshaped member and engaging the said first surface, and the second roller comprising two roller parts one toward each end of the spindle and each roller part separated axially of the spindle from the first roller by one of the said walls, the roller parts engaging the said second surface at spaced positions, the arrangement being such that as the weight assembly moves, under centrifugal force, outward from the rotatable member as it is rotated, the rollers roll along their respective surfaces and `urge them apart against their bias, and the said spindle moves along the said slots so that its movement is at least in part guided thereby.

2. A centrifugal speed governor comprising a member rotatable about an axis; a iirst channebmembcr with its channel extending in a direction transverse to the said axis and supported from the rotatable member for rotation therewith and having two opposed walls; a second channel-member `with its channel extending in a direction transverse to the said axis and supported `from the rotatable member for rotation therewith and having opposed walls, between -which two walls lie both the aforesaid walls of the said first channel-member; a first surface member and a second surface member which are inclined relatively toward each other in directions transverse to the said axis so that the said surface members are progressively closer to each other as they progressively extend in the direction away from the axis of the rotatable member; biasing means for biasing the first and second surface members toward each other; a weight assembly compris ing a spindle carrying a iirst roller and a second roller, the spindle passing through the said walls of the first channel member, the end of the spindle engaging the inner faces respectively of the said Walls of the second channel member by which engagement Vthe second channel member rotates the weight assembly, the first roller being positioned between the said walls of the first chaunel member and engaging the said first surface and the second roller comprising two roller parts, one positioned between one wall of the first channel member and the adjacent wall of the .second channel member and the other roller part positioned Ibetween the other wall of the first channel member andthe adjacent wall of the second channel mem-ber, the roller parts engaging the said second surface at spaced positions, the arrangement being such that as the weight assembly moves, under centrifugal force, outward from the rotatable member when it is rotated, the rollers roll along the respective surfaces and urge them apart against their bias.

3. A centrifugal speed governor as claimed in claim 2, in which the second channel member includes a base part extending between the two said walls, which base part provides the said second surface.

4. A centrifugal speed governor comprising a cylindrical shaft rotatable about its axis, a 'generally channelshaped member vwith its channel extending in a direction transverse to the said axis and having two opposed walls and attached to the shaft for rotation therewith; a rst surface and a second surface which are inclined relatively toward each other in directions transverse lto the said axis so that the said surface memlbers are progressively closer to each other as they progressively extend in the direction away Ifrom the `axis of the shaft; biasing means `for ibiasing the `first and second sur-face members toward each other, a weight assembly comprising a rrst roller Aand a 4second roller the rst roller of which is contained 'between the said Walls of the channel-shaped member and has a concave surface which engages and co-operates 15 with the said cylindrical shaft, and the second roller of which comprises two roller parts spaced apart axially and separated by the said rst roller and which engages the said second surface at spaced positions, the arrangement being such that as the weight assembly moves, under centrifugal force, outward 4fromy the rotatable member when it is rotated, the rollers roll along the respective surfaces and urge them apart against their bias.

5. A centrifugal speedggovernor as claimed in claim.l 2, in which the first channel member includes a base part extending between the said two opposed walls, which base part has an end part which yis bent inwardly between lthe said two opposed walls to provide the said first sur-face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,046 Bancroft Feb. 7, 19=39 2,503,946 Hallett Apr. 11, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 379,068 Germany Aug. 15, 1923 420,429 Germany Oct. 23, 1925 839,125 Germany May 15, 1952 

1. A CENTRIFUGAL SPEED GOVERNOR COMPRISING A MEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS; A FIRST SURFACE MEMBER AND A SECOND SURFACE MEMBER WHICH ARE INCLINED RELATIVELY TOWARD EACH OTHER IN DIRECTIONS TRANSVERSE TO THE SAID AXIS SO THAT THE SAID SURFACE MEMBERS ARE PROGRESSIVELY CLOSER TO EACH OTHER AS THEY PROGRESSIVELY EXTEND IN THE DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE AXIS OF THE ROTATABLE MEMBER; BIASING MEANS FOR BIASING THE FIRST AND SECOND SURFACE MEMBERS TOWARD EACH OTHER; A GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBER WITH ITS CHANNEL EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE SAID AXIS AND SUPPORTED FROM THE ROTATABLE MEMBER FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND HAVING TWO OPPOSED WALLS EACH FORMED WITH A SLOT, WHICH SLOT EXTENDS PARALLEL TO THE SAID FIRST SURFACE; A WEIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SPINDLE CARRYING A FIRST ROLLER AND A SECOND ROLLER, THE SPINDLE PASSING THROUGH AND BEING GUIDED BY THE SAID SLOT, THE FIRST ROLLER BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN THE SAID WALLS OF THE CHANNELSHAPED MEMBER AND ENGAGING THE SAID FIRST SURFACE, AND THE SECOND ROLLER COMPRISING TWO ROLLER PARTS ONE TOWARD EACH END OF THE SPINDLE AND EACH ROLLER PART SEPARATED AXIALLY OF THE SPINDLE FROM THE FIRST ROLLER BY ONE OF THE SAID WALLS, THE ROLLER PARTS ENGAGING THE SAID SECOND SURFACE AT SPACED POSITIONS, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT AS THE WEIGHT ASSEMBLY MOVES, UNDER CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, OUTWARD FROM THE ROTATABLE MEMBER AS IT IS ROTATED, THE ROLLERS ROLL ALONG THEIR RESPECTIVE SURFACES AND URGE THEM APART AGAINST THEIR BIAS, AND THE SAID SPINDLE MOVES ALONG THE SAID SLOTS SO THAT ITS MOVEMENT IS AT LEAST IN PART GUIDED THEREBY. 